The filmmakers at the luncheon were quick to give kudos to the DGA for its significant role in their creative endeavors.

Greg Pak, director of Robot Stories, said, "It's amazing to have such a beautiful place to show your film. The DGA is a great venue." Allan Brocka, director of Roberta Loved, said, "I've always felt very welcome by the DGA. The VC Film Festival is great for Asian and Asian American filmmakers as we're so invisible otherwise." Bertha Bay-Sa Pan added, "The DGA's been so great to me ever since my first short in '98. It feels like coming home with my feature debut Face."

DGA Independent Directors Committee (IDC) member Mary Lambert opened the luncheon by encouraging filmmakers to "participate in the community of filmmaking and to send out your message, not only as citizens of the world but also as filmmakers."

Director Jaime Babbit (But I'm a Cheerleader and also an IDC member) warned the crowd not to make the mistake she did, but join the DGA before doing their feature so they get creative rights protections. She also recommended, "listen to your audience, ask them for feedback and support your fellow filmmakers."

The VCFF featured many interesting and insightful panels for participants.

DGA member Walt Louie moderated "Lights, Camera, Action!" a discussion with director/cinematographer Ernest Dickerson (who shot Spike Lee's Malcolm X, Do the Right Thing and She's Gotta Have It) and cinematographer Matthew Libatique (Pi, Requiem for a Dream and Tigerland).

"Afternoon With Freida Lee Mock," an Oscar winner for best documentary feature Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision, discussed the importance of maintaining a filmmaker's passion at all times. "Raising money is always hard," the DGA member director said, "but if you have a strong enough desire you can make it happen. The DV (digital video) revolution has democratized the place [making it affordable for] a lot more people to come in to film."

"Do the Write Thing" discussed the importance of good story and good scripts as a means of entree and a means of integrating stories about minorities into the mainstream. Writer and founder of the Asian American writers group Freddy Tran Nager moderated a discussion with Rita Hsiao (The Wonder Years, All-American Girl) and director/writer DGA member George Huang (Swimming With Sharks) said, "Film school tends to make you think within the box. Look at DVDs with directors' comments to really learn about film." Huang's tips also included, "The best place to write is a boiler room where there are no distractions" and "be a part of the DGA's Humanitas workshop. It's a wonderful place for writers and directors to learn."

"What the 411?" covered the script, chain of title, contracts, union issues and more. Attorney and production consultant Patrick J. Gorman moderated the panel that included actor Tom Bower, producer's representative/post production consultant Jeff Dowd and DGA Special Assignments Executive Jon Larson.

"Truth or Dare: Putting It on the Line" featured a panel of maverick filmmakers who really did do just that to get "their" vision on the screen. Moderated by David Magdael, Co-director of the Festival, the discussion was lively and filled with information.

DGA member director Reginald Hudlin, who exploded onto the scene in 1990 with House Party, advised the audience that "Commercial is not necessarily a bad word, it just means you connected to a lot of people, which is what you want to do if you want to make movies.

"Ignorance is key," he added. "If you knew better you never would do it, so just plunge in. The trick is to be willing to fail. Don't be scattered but try new things."

Justin Lin, whose film Better Luck Tomorrow debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival not only created a sensation but created history as the first Asian American film to be picked up at the Festival by a distributor, MTV Films. "There was no model to put out our film," Lin said. "We were thinking of going from town to town to distribute if ourselves but when we got to Sundance it just blew up and we were fortunate enough to work out a deal with MTV Films."

–Julie Robinson